•NO Function
The chemical fate of NO in cells remain the topic of considerable
debate due, in large part, to the complexities associated with
measuring the abundance of short-lived radicals. It is reasonably
well accepted that NO with its one unpaired electron, will react
avidly with oxygen, superoxide anion radical (02), and transition
metals. These reactions can lead to the modification of proteins,
resulting in the activation or inactivation of enzymes, or lead
to cellular toxicity through various other means. It is also safe
to conclude that the chemistry resulting from these interactions
can be separated in nitrosation or oxidation. The challenge in
the field has been in defining the pathways to nitrosation or
oxidation in intact tissue.
